#Linguistics The pragmatics of syntactic forms

 

The pragmatics of syntactic forms

Language variation also occur in the form of tag questions, like in standard English tag question are formed by adding copy of the subject after an appropriate model auxiliary. Like Hannah said she’ll come today, didn’t she?

There are 5 different pragmatic function of tag questions which are given below;

1.     Informational tag which is used for getting information often produced eith rising pitch.

2.     The confirmatory tag which is used for getting the conformity from hearer.

3.     The punctuation tag which is used for the influence

4.     The peremptory tag, which is used to end the discussion.

5.     Th aggressive tag which is used with low tone often show lacking good will.

The former two types are showing the politeness and rest of three shows impoliteness. Tag questions also varies from one variety of English to another variety. For example, in Indian English, the undifferentiated tags play very lead role in pragmatics of Indian community for showing cultural constraint of politeness. For example, you are doing homework soon, isn’t it? In Hong Kong English there is strong use of undifferentiated tags for getting confirmation. Similarly, in Singaporean English people use the tag either isn’t it or is it. For example, in Singaporean, you want go Singapore swing, is it? say so lah whereas in standard variety it could be like this, you want to go to Singapore Swing, don’t you?

Along with tag question, auxiliary also serve great pragmatic function. For example, in Indian English the auxiliary “may” is used to show the positive politeness.  For example, this presentation may be conducted tomorrow. Same in the case with Singaporean English, they used “would” as form to show politeness. For Example, I will come, but I am not sure if I would be free.